Steering wheel mounted clipboard

ABSTRACT

A clipboard for detachable connection to the steering wheel of an automobile to provide a firm base for the preparation of field sketches and notes in a motor vehicle. The clipboard includes a circular base plate having adjustable spring clips secured thereto for snapping over a steering wheel. A circular board is secured to the base plate by means of an axial pivot pin to permit the board to rotate on the plate. A spring pressed clamp is provided on the edge of the board for securing papers to the board. An optional feature provides a protractor on the board for use of an engineer in making field sketches.

United States Patent 1 Elenberger STEERING WHEEL MOUNTED CLIPBOARI) [76]Inventor: Richard V. Elenberger, 7480 Bradburn Boulevard, Westminister,Colo. 80030 22 Filed: Feb.8, 1972 21 App1.No.:'224,564

[52] US. Cl. 33/75 R, 108/44 [51] Int. Cl B431 5/00 [58] Field of Search280/150; 292/303; 33/75, 78; 24/67.5, 67.7; 108/44, 45; 281/1 [56]References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,150,709 3/1939 Bake 24/677397,147 2/1889 Sperry v 33/78 2,407,893 9/1940 Meyer 33/1 SD 3,271,8669/1966 Gruber et a1 1. 33/76 VA 2,532,537 12/1950 Brown 33/78 FOREIGNPATENTS ()R APPLICATIONS 1,122,364 8/1968 Great Britain 108/44 1 June19, 1973 Primary Examiner-Harry N. Haroian Attorney-Hyman Berman,Stanford W. Berman and Theodore Bishoff et a1.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A clipboard for detachable connection to the steeringwheel of an automobile to provide a firm base for the preparation offield sketches and notes in a motor vehicle. The clipboard includes acircular base plate having adjustable spring clips secured thereto forsnapping over a steering wheel. A circular board is secured to the baseplate by means of an axial pivot pin to permit the board to rotate onthe plate. A spring pressed clamp is provided on the edge of the boardfor securing papers to the board. An optional feature provides aprotractor on the board for use of an engineer in making field sketches.

4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENIEB JUN I 91973 MEIEDFZ 1 STEERINGWHEEL MOUNTED CLIPBOARD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of theInvention The present invention relates to a field clipboardparticularly adapted for the use of engineers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A field clipboard consisting of two circularmembers pivotally secured together with one of the members havingadjustable spring clips for clipping it to the steering wheel of anautomobile and the other of the members having a spring pressed clampfor securing the papers to the upper surface thereof.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an e'ngineersclipboard supported on the steering wheel of an automobile to provide asolid base.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the followingspecification when considered in the light of the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical cross section taken along the Line 2--2of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along the Line 44 of FIG. 2looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view taken alongthe Line 5-5 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrrows; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of one of the springclips and its adjustable connection to the base plate.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings indetail wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughoutthe several figures, the references numeral 10 indicates generally aclipboard constructed in accordance with the invention.

The clipboard 10 is adapted to be detachably secured to a steering wheel11 mounted on a steering post 12 which is supported in a dashboard 13 ofa motor vehicle by conventional means.

The clipboard 10 includes a flat, circular base plate 14 having an axialbore 15 extending therethrough. The

underside of the base plate 14 is provided with a plurality of radiallyextending, circumferentially equi-spaced brackets 16 with each of thebrackets 16 having an elongate slot. 17 extending longitudinally thereofto lie on a radius of the plate 14. The slot 17 has an enlarged aperture18 at one end thereof to permit the head 19 of a carriage bolt 20 to beinserted therethrough. The carriage bolt 20 has a square shank 21 whichslidably engages in the slot 17 but is restrained from rotating therein.

A spring clip generally indicated at 22 is engaged against the bracket16 and has a bore 23 formed in a flat portion 24 thereof to engage overthe carriage bolt 20. A wing nut 25 is threaded onto the bolt 20 toclamp the flat portion 24 to the bracket 16. An arcuate spring arm 26 isintegrally formed with the flat portion 24 of the spring clip 22 andextends upwardly and outwardly therefrom. An arcuate jaw 27 isintegrally joined to the outer end of the arm 26. The jaw 27 is adaptedto engage the inner side of the steering wheel 11 as can be seen in thelower portion of FIG. 2.

In attaching the base plate 14 to the steering wheel 11 the wing nuts 25are loosened and the spring clips 22 are moved inwardly to permit thebase plate 14 to be centered on the steering wheel 11. The spring clips22 are then moved outwardly until each of the jaws 27 are in contactwith the steering wheel 11 whereupon the wing nuts 25 are tightened tomaintain the spring clips 22 in their adjusted position. With the springclips 22 in their adjusted position. With the spring clips 22 in theiradjusted position the base plate 14 can be snapped on and off of thesteering wheel 1 1 without the necessity of further adjustments of thespring clips 22. In the event that the clipboard 10 is to be used on asteering wheel of a different circumference, the spring clips 22 areagain adjusted as described above.

The board 14 has protractor forming indicia generally indicated at 28printed on the upper surface thereof when such is found to be desirable.

A circular transparent plastic board 29 having a diameter equal to thediameter of the plate 14 is pivotally secured to the plate 14 by meansof an axially pivot bolt 30 extending therethrough. A wing nut 31secures the pivot bolt 30 to the board 29 and plate 14. A pivoted springclamp generally indicated at. 32 is secured to the board 29 by means ofrivets 33. The spring clamp 32 is adapted to hold papers and othermaterials on the upper face of the board 29. A plastic washer 33separates the plate 14 and board 29 to reduce the contact therebetween.

With the plate 14 releasably clamped to the steering wheel 11 paper formaking field sketches and/or notes is secured under the clamp 32 to theface of the board 29 to permit drawings and notes to be made with a firmsupport for the board 29. Rotation of the board 29 with respect to theplate 14 permits angles to be drawn utilizing the protractor 28 as aguide.

Having thus described the preferred embodiments of the invention, itshould be understood that numerous structural modifications andadaptations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

l. A clipboard for detachable connection to the steering wheel of anautomobile, comprising a base plate, a plurality of spring clips, meanssecuring said spring clips to said base plate for radial adjustmentthereon, a board, means pivotally securing said board to said plate forrotational adjustment about an axis perpendicular to said board and saidplate, and means for detachably securing paper to said board, said meansfor securing said spring clips to said plate comprising a plurality ofcircumferentially equi-spaced radially extending brackets secured tosaid plate with each of said brackets having a slot extending radiallywith respect to said plate and a bolt slidably mounted in said slot anddetachably secured to said spring clip.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for securing papersto said board comprises a spring hinged clamp secured to the edge ofsaid board.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said base plate and said boardare circular and have substantially the same diameter.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said board is formed oftransparent plastic and a protractor is printed on the upper surface ofsaid plate to be visible through said board.

II t 4! IF t

1. A clipboard for detachable connection to the steering wheel of anautomobile, comprising a base plate, a plurality of spring clips, meanssecuring said spring clips to said base plate for radial adjustmentthereon, a board, means pivotally securing said board to said plate forrotational adjustment about an axis perpendicular to said board and saidplate, and means for detachably securing paper to said board, said meansfor securing said spring clips to said plate comprising a plurality ofcircumferentially equi-spaced radially extending brackets secured tosaid plate with each of said brackets having a slot extending radiallywith respect to said plate and a bolt slidably mounted in said slot anddetachably secured to said spring clip.
 2. A device as claimed in claim1 wherein the means for securing papers to said board comprises a springhinged clamp secured to the edge of said board.
 3. A device as claimedin claim 1 wherein said base plate and said board are circular and havesubstantially the same diameter.
 4. A device as claimed in claim 1wherein said board is formed of transparent plastic and a protractor isprinted on the upper surface of said plate to be visible through saidboard.